The Doodler

AI True Crime: The Doodler

Between 1974 and 1975, six gay men were killed in San Francisco in a series of murders that became one of the city's most disturbing unsolved cases. The killer became known as The Doodler because at least one surviving victim told police that the attacker claimed to be a cartoonist and sketched while talking with him at a late-night diner.

The victims were Gerald Cavanaugh, Joseph Stevens, Klaus Christmann, Frederick Capin, Warren Andrews and Harald Gullberg. San Francisco police believe all six were gay white men who encountered the killer shortly before their deaths, generally in isolated coastal locations. Warren Andrews, who was beaten rather than stabbed, was identified as a possible sixth victim decades after the original investigation.

The case became even more complicated because there were survivors. Their descriptions helped police create a composite sketch of the suspected killer in 1975. One survivor was reportedly a European diplomat, while another was a well-known entertainer. The social climate of 1970s San Francisco meant that publicly identifying themselves as gay could have enormous personal and professional consequences.

Police eventually received information pointing toward a possible suspect, including a report from a psychiatrist who believed one of his patients might be the killer. Investigators could not build a prosecutable case, however, and the Doodler disappeared from public attention for decades.

The case was reopened in the modern era, and investigators have continued examining old evidence, surviving witnesses and possible connections to other attacks. In 2026, San Francisco police renewed their appeal for information and are offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension and conviction of the person responsible.

Sources and Further Reading

San Francisco Police Department: The Doodler Cold Case

The primary current source for the case. SFPD's June 2026 announcement identifies the six homicides currently being investigated and describes what investigators believe about the victims, the suspect and the related Fox Plaza attacks.

https://www.sanfranciscopolice.org/news/sfpd-cold-case-unit-asking-publics-assistance-solving-six

SFPD: The “Doodler” Cold Case Investigation Update

The department's January 2023 update, including the identification of Warren Andrews as a possible sixth victim and the increase of the reward to $250,000.